Two overseas tourists killed while kayaking on Lake Tekapo

Tourist Deathtrap: Young visitors killed on Lake Tekapo

At least two overseas tourists were killed while kayaking on Lake Tekapo, in South Canterbury, and nine others were left suffering from  hypothermia.

The bodies of the two victims, young men in their twenties,  were pulled from Lake Tekapo this afternoon, while nine others are said to have survived their kayaking ordeal.

The two were members of a group of young people who hired kayaks for a trip on Lake Tekapo, police said.

All of the survivors suffered hypothermia and several in more serious conditions were hospitalized at Timaru Hospital.

The group ran into difficulty after venturing out on the lake and was swamped after an easterly wind picked up to an estimated 20 knots, police said.

Water temperature on the lake at this time of year is about 6 degree Celsius.

The company that took the kayakers on the lake was Aquanorts, which have declined to comment.

“There was a guided kayaking trip on Lake Tekapo this afternoon that ended in tragedy when two of the party died after the group had been swamped by heavy waters following a northeasterly wind that had got up,” according to a local policeman.

Police have not yet released the identity of the victims.

Three men were killed on the lake in October 2009, according to a report.